As 2024 comes to an end, we’ve been reflecting on what an exhilarating year it’s been for Chol. From foot-stomping flash mobs to soul-stirring theatre, powerful workshops, and creative collaborations,…
As 2024 comes to an end, we’ve been reflecting on what an exhilarating year it’s been for Chol. From foot-stomping flash mobs to soul-stirring theatre, powerful workshops, and creative collaborations, it’s been a whirlwind of activity that has energised us through and through. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be just as exciting, filled with lots of new opportunities to inspire, connect, and create.
We’d love to share with you our highlights of 2024…
Back in March, we celebrated boldness and connection in more ways than one. The Peace Gardens in Sheffield came alive with a flash mob choreographed by the incredible Angelina Abel, a joyful celebration performed under the sunny Sheffield skies. This was followed by Cholavan workshops, where members of the public explored what it means to be bold and shared their inspiring stories. Later that month, the angry girls collective took centre stage at Samuel Worth Chapel with Speak, Rage, Soar, an immersive theatre piece that explored feminism and resistance. The production, born from weeks of outreach and conversation, became a powerful testament to the courage and fury of women stepping beyond societal expectations.
In April, we were thrilled to welcome Anna to the team as our new strategy and development lead. With over 25 years of arts sector experience, Anna has been instrumental in refining our vision and ensuring we work smarter, not harder. Her holistic and nurturing approach has brought cohesion and clarity to our efforts, and we’re so excited to have her as part of the Chol family.
May was a month of resilience and remembrance as we revisited the strength of women during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. We got to transform the Cholavan into a soup kitchen at the WoW Festival in Rotherham, offering not just sustenance but stories. Audience were invited to come in and listen to an incredible sound installation created using oral histories from women on the picket lines. Next up was Daughters of Coal, performed first at the Clifton Park Museum in May and again at Rotherham Show in September, the show transported audiences back to a time of solidarity and hope.
As spring turned to summer, July and August saw our Cholavan out in communities as we travelled across Kirklees for annual Maker World Summer Camps in collaboration with the Children’s Art School. These free, fun-filled sessions brought together children, families, and professional artists in green spaces for a kaleidoscope of activities, from den building to storytelling. Over the summer we also partnered with In Place of War on their 100 Creative Agents of Climate Change project, connecting young activists globally to tackle pressing environmental challenges through art and activism.
Alongside all of this, our Caring & Creative Schools Programme continued to drive radically caring learning experiences across schools, museums, and at Universities in Yorkshire. As part of the final year of our Caring & Creative Schools Programme, we have five new incredible Imaginary Communities Trainees, who will join us between January and March 2025, learning the tools to transform education through creativity and care.
As we look toward 2025, we’re brimming with excitement for new projects on the horizon. Kicking off in January, we are diving into our brand new project Ella’s Peas, celebrating the legacy of Ella Hudson-Gasking and the role of women in shaping Sheffield’s industrial history. Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this initiative will connect schools, communities, and the wider public through performances, workshops, and exhibitions.
And don’t forget to join us in February for our Rewilding the Curriculum conference in partnership with Story Makers and Leeds Beckett University. With educators and cultural partners we will work together to reimagine education through care and creativity.
To everyone who has been with us in any capacity during 2024 – whether you danced in the Peace Gardens, shared your story in the Cholavan, or simply cheered us on from afar, we thank you. Your love and support makes everything we do possible.
As we step into 2025, we’re more committed than ever to nurturing creativity, amplifying voices, and inspiring bold action. Here’s to another year of storytelling, connection, and change.
With lots of love and gratitude
The Chol Team x
We are beyond excited to share the incredible news that Chol has been awarded a WYCA Unlimited Micro Capital Grant to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of the Cholavan!
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